Think the $499 that Apple charges for its WiFi-only iPad is a bit too much to pay for a tablet computer? No problem. HP has just introduced a $399 Android tablet… oh yeah, and it comes with a free internet-connected printer.

Actually, the Photosmart eStation (or the device formerly known as the HP Zeen) is first and foremost a $399 printer, which just happens to have a 7 inch Android tablet that you can use to interact with the printer controls, surf the web, or perform other activities. The tablet is also removable, so you can use it around the house to check your email, surf the web, or look at photos — all of which you can also send straight to the printer.

HP says the tablet, which has a Freescale i.MX51 CPU will run for between 4 and 6 hours on a charge. When it’s docked to the printer, it can function as a digital photo frame.

The tablet runs Android 2.1 and has a few important apps built in, including Facebook, Email, and weather apps. But it doesn’t include access to the Google Android Market for downloading and installing third party apps.

I’m not sure how hard it would be to install apps manually, but HP has hand-selected a bunch of apps that will work well with the device — and with the printer. It looks like HP also designed a custom user interface which runs on top of Google Android. There is a music player, which is one of the only apps that’s not directly tied to the printer.

Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Lot of stupid people will buy this gizmo. This is more a placeholder for HP than anything else. When they fully get Webos incorporated into their entire product lineup you shall see something different come along.
Android is not as smooth as Webos is and thus just wait and see.

Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

[…] The HP Photosmart eStation’s tablet is running Android 2.1 so many users will find navigation a breeze, but there is no access to the Android Market so we’ll have to wait and see how easy it is to install other apps. Liliputing has more info on what powers the HP eStation Tablet. […]

Liliputing’s primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the “Shop” button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we’ll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you’re using an ad blocker and hate online shopping.